 |
 |
 |
|
|
After meeting with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) assured his Israeli hosts that they would be able to reach an agreement with the United States on the fence's route.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
08/18
Haaretz |
|
08/18
Jerusalem Post |
|
|
| By Ellis Shuman August 18, 2003 |
|
| |
At the head of a seven-member congressional delegation's fact-finding trip to the Middle East, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) said that Israel's security fence "is an important contributor to the reduction of acts of terrorism." McCain assured his Israeli hosts that they would be able to reach an agreement with the United States on the fence's route.
At a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Sunday, McCain said the fence "is important to the security of the State of Israel and it was also raised between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon. Many of us in Congress feel it is an important contributor to the reduction of acts of terrorism.
"The Oslo accord failed because it was based on the premise that the Palestinian and Israeli peoples could live peacefully together. The security fence will test whether they can live peacefully apart," McCain said.
When asked if the United States should link the route of the fence with the loan guarantees it would be providing Israel, McCain replied, "I absolutely do not think so."
Shalom was asked why Israel was willing to transfer security responsibilities for four additional West Bank cities when the Palestinians had yet to fulfill their commitments to dismantle the terrorist organizations. "Every city we withdraw from - it means that the Palestinians give a commitment that no violence or terrorism will emanate from those cities," Shalom replied.
"The government of Israel has gone the extra mile," McCain said. With regards to the Palestinian leadership, McCain said that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was undermining Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). "We have heard that there was a meeting between Arafat and those responsible for last week's attacks, prior to the attacks. How much authority does the present government have?" McCain asked.
The other members of the bipartisan delegation are:
 Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina);
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington);
Sen. John Sununu (R-New Hampshire);
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas);
Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tennessee); and
Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs.
The delegation also met on Sunday with Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. The delegation was scheduled to fly over the security fence by helicopter today and then meet with Abu Mazen and Palestinian Minister of State for Security Mohammed Dahlan.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
